Pubdate: Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Source: Spectator, The (GA Edu)
Copyright: 2014 The Spectator.
Contact:  http://www.valdosta.edu/vsu/stuorg/spec/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2858
Author: LaShawn Oglesby
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/Naloxone

ANTI-OVERDOSE DRUG SPARKS CONTROVERSY

A drug that counteracts overdoses on opioid drugs such as heroine, 
OxyContin and morphine is now available to the public for free.

The drug is called Naloxone, and it isn't a new drug; patients in 
ambulances and emergency rooms get this antidotal drug when it is required.

Though this drug sounds amazing, many have voiced concerns that it 
doesn't help drug users get clean and instead makes them take higher 
doses of drugs because they don't have to worry about fatal overdoses.

Drug users who think this drug makes them invincible are resting in a 
false sense of security. In most overdose situations, the victim is 
unable to administer the drug to him-or herself.

Based on studies by the National Center for Biotechnology 
Information, an organization that advances science and health by 
providing access to biomedical and genomic information, this drug 
isn't causing people to abuse drugs any more than they were before.

Keeping this drug from the public is a mistake because people are 
going to overdose no matter what. If Naloxone becomes readily 
available to people, many lives can be saved.

People would rather administer a drug than bury their loved ones. 
Instead of waiting for paramedics to come to the rescue, individuals 
can be proactive in saving the lives of those they care about.

Even if Naloxone does provide a false sense of security to drug 
users, the alternative to keeping the drug away from the public 
equals more deaths. Ultimately, saving lives is always the correct move.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom